[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 101 (Thursday, May 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25608-25609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12387]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Project Number STP-0022-01 (059)]


Environmental Impact Statement: Harrison, Jackson, Stone, Perry, 
George, and Greene Counties, MS

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Revision to the Original Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this revised

[[Page 25609]]

Notice of Intent to advise the public of changes to the logical termini 
for the Environmental Impact Statement that will be prepared to study 
improvements to State Route 15/State Route 57 to provide a four-lane 
facility beginning in the vicinity of the State Route 67/I-110 
Interchange in Harrison County, Mississippi and terminating on State 
Route 15 north of Beaumont, Mississippi, a distance of approximately 61 
miles. The original Notice of Intent for this project appeared in the 
July 17, 2008 Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dickie Walters, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, 666 North 
Street, Suite 105, Jackson, MS 39202-3199, Telephone: (601) 965-4217. 
Contacts at the State and local level, respectively are: Mr. Claiborne 
Barnwell, Environmental/Location Division Engineer, Mississippi 
Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 1850, Jackson, MS 39215-1850, 
telephone: (601) 359-7920; and Mr. Steven Twedt, District 6 Engineer, 
Mississippi Department of Transportation, 6356 Highway 49 North, 
Hattiesburg, MS 39403-0551, telephone (601) 544-6511.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, Mississippi Division Office will 
serve as the lead Federal agency for this project while the Mississippi 
Department of Transportation (MDOT) will serve as joint lead agency. 
The FHWA, in cooperation with MDOT, will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to study potential improvements to State Route 
15/State Route 57 (SR 15/SR 57) in order to provide a four-lane 
facility. This approximately 61-mile long corridor has logical termini 
near the State Route 67/I-110 interchange in Harrison County and on 
State Route 15 north of Beaumont, MS in Perry County. The termini on 
the southern end of the project is a change from the original southern 
termini which began in the vicinity of Ramsey Springs, MS and was 
identified in the original Notice of Intent for this project which 
appeared in the July 17, 2008 Federal Register. The purpose of the EIS 
is to address the transportation, environmental, and safety issues of 
such a transportation corridor. The transportation facility will 
greatly enhance hurricane evacuation from the Mississippi Gulf, provide 
a new four-lane facility, and meet legislative intent. Alternatives 
under consideration include (1) taking no action and (2) build 
alternatives. The FHWA and MDOT are seeking input as a part of the 
scoping process to assist in determining and clarifying issues relative 
to this project. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting 
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local 
agencies, Native American tribes, private organizations and citizens 
who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in this 
proposal. Another formal scoping meeting with Federal, State, and local 
agencies, and other interested parties will be held in the near future. 
Public involvement meetings will be held during the EIS process. The 
draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment 
prior to the official public hearing. To ensure that the full range of 
issues related to this proposed action is addressed and all significant 
issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all 
interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed 
action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address 
provided above.

    Dated: May 21, 2009.
Donald E. Davis,
Federal Highway Administration, Assistant Division Administrator, 
Mississippi Division, Jackson, Mississippi.
[FR Doc. E9-12387 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
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